What is Screen Printing?
Most graphic T-shirts that you see in stores have been screen printed, its the industry standard. Most of the time it is the most cost effective way to make a custom T-shirt.
A lot of work goes into getting a shirt ready to print.
Artwork has to be made and if it has multiple colors it needs to be separated which means that each color will be put on its own screen. Then its printed on films to be burned on the screens. Next, its finally time to setup the press to print the shirts. It takes a good bit of time to setup the press to run shirts.
Screen printing is accomplished by making a mesh stencil (called a screen) for each color that needs to be printed. Screens must be lined up (or registered) and printed on test sheets to ensure that all of the colors line up correctly. Inks are then pushed through the screens one color at a time onto the apparel. Finally, each piece is run through a large dryer to cure the inks. The more colors a design has, the more screens that are needed, and the more setup time required. Screen printing is designed to be printed in bulk. The printing part of the process is actually the fastest part. All the costs and time are in the setup. This is why the cost per shirt goes down the more you print per design.
PRICE FACTORS:
Type of Garment:
For almost every product type we have an inexpensive, mid-range, and high end option, and there are many styles to choose from – not just t-shirts!
Quantity Ordered:
Due to the setup involved in screenprinting, the more shirts you order, the lower your price will be per item.
Number of Locations Printed:
Each location requires a new setup for your design. A front print only will always be cheaper than a front and back print.
Number of Colors on Each Design:
The number of colors in each design affects the print time and setup for each location. A one color print will be less expensive than a three color print.